Financial services practice expands with two new hires, courtesy of Dechert's recent investment.
Dechert LLP has announced the addition of two new partners, Arina Lekhel and Megha Kalbag, to its financial services practice in New York. This move significantly enhances the firm's capabilities, particularly in private funds, rated notes, and derivatives transactions.
Expertise of the New Partners
Arina Lekhel, with over 20 years of experience, specializes in the formation and management of a wide range of private funds. Her practice includes asset-backed private funds, credit funds, private equity funds, rated funds, CLO (Collateralized Loan Obligation) equity funds, and both closed- and open-end funds. Lekhel's work mainly involves advising fund sponsors on fund formation, ongoing investment operations, and compliance.
Megha Kalbag brings complementary expertise, particularly in navigating complex fund formation, rated and CLO equity funds, and derivatives transactions. Kalbag's transactional practice includes bank-owned life insurance, stable value wraps, repurchase agreements, total return swaps, and advising on ISDAs.
Enhancing Dechert's Capabilities
The arrival of Lekhel and Kalbag is expected to deepen and expand Dechert's private funds capabilities, enabling the firm to offer innovative, tailored solutions for asset managers and financial institutions globally. Their experience enhances the firm's ability to serve clients in areas experiencing rapid growth and innovation, such as fund formation, CLO equity funds, rated notes, and derivatives transactions.
By joining a practice with over 200 lawyers internationally, they strengthen Dechert’s position as a leading law firm in financial services and investment management, supporting a broad range of sophisticated fund structuring and compliance matters.
Statements from Dechert's Leadership
David Forti, co-chair of Dechert, believes that Lekhel and Kalbag's arrival will expand and deepen the firm's private funds capabilities and leading financial services practice. Chris Christian, financial services group co-chair, shares this sentiment, stating that the addition of Lekhel and Kalbag will greatly enhance the firm's ability to expand service offerings to financial institutions and asset managers worldwide.
Remarks from the New Partners
Arina Lekhel commented on her move to Dechert, stating that it is an opportunity to work with a dynamic team and contribute to the growth of the private funds group. Megha Kalbag expressed her excitement about joining Dechert, highlighting the firm's strong reputation and its commitment to delivering exceptional client service.
The new partners, Arina Lekhel and Megha Kalbag, will be based in New York. On July 22, 2025, Dechert law firm announced the addition of Arina Lekhel and Megha Kalbag to its financial services practice.
Lekhel's role at Dechert will involve helping clients navigate complex structuring matters such as joint ventures, mergers, profit-sharing arrangements, risk retention vehicles, seeding transactions, and spin-offs. Kalbag's client base comprises fintech companies, dealers, and asset managers.
In summary, Arina Lekhel and Megha Kalbag bring deep expertise in private funds and CLO-related financial transactions that will bolster Dechert’s financial services practice by expanding its offerings and servicing private credit and asset management clients with complex fund formation and derivatives needs.
- Arina Lekhel's expertise in private fund management, including asset-backed private funds, credit funds, and CLO equity funds, will help Dechert expand its private funds capabilities and offer innovative solutions for clients worldwide.
- Megha Kalbag's transactional practice focuses on complex fund formation, including bank-owned life insurance, total return swaps, and advising on ISDAs, which will enhance Dechert's ability to serve clients in areas experiencing rapid growth and innovation.
- With their addition to Dechert, Lekhel and Kalbag will leverage technology and education-and-self-development resources to invest in personal-finance education and stratagem, thus ensuring the firm stays at the forefront of the finance industry.
